Everyone was waiting for Gonçalo Ramos, but he showed up. Alphadjo Cissè wore the Milan jersey without making a fuss, but in a few weeks he managed to win the starting spot for his debut in the championship and the goal with which he opened the match against Torino made him talk everywhere. From the red and black fans, but not only.
At the age of 19, the Treviso-born player seemed destined for another season on loan after his experience at Catanzaro. However, the preparatory phase overturned all predictions: convincing performances, personality and a goal against Manchester United caught the attention of Ruben Amorim. The goal scored against Torino, in the match won 2-1 by the “Devil”, added another element to a candidacy that now seems increasingly concrete.
Cissè, from Catanzaro to Milan: the preparatory phase that changed his future
Cissè's path begins in the province of Treviso. Born on October 22, 2006 to Guinean parents, he took his first steps at Polisportiva Indomita, in the San Liberale neighborhood, before moving to Giorgione in Castelfranco Veneto. In 2020, he entered the youth sector of Verona, a club that accompanied him in his growth until his debut in Serie A, on May 26, 2024 against Inter.
The following season, Verona decided to loan him to Catanzaro. It was a period that marked a turning point in his career, because in Calabria, under the guidance of Alberto Aquilani, Cissè found continuity and, above all, a role where he could best display his characteristics. During the season, he made 22 appearances, scoring five goals and providing one assist, showing technical quality and an increasingly great personality.
But the journey was suddenly interrupted on February 7, during the Catanzaro-Reggiana match. After just 18 minutes, Cissè was forced to leave the field due to a problem with the adductor of his right thigh. Examinations revealed a significant injury that required surgical intervention and forced him to end the season prematurely. A difficult moment just when his career seemed ready to take off. Meanwhile, in January, Milan had decided to invest in him, buying the player from Verona for around 8 million euros plus 2 million in bonuses, leaving him at Catanzaro until the end of the season.
Technique, personality and goals: this is how Alphadjo convinced Amorim
The summer preparations changed everything. Cissè arrived at Milanello with the objective of showing that he could be useful to the first team and, match after match, he gained space and consideration. At first he avoided taking on excessive responsibilities, limiting himself to carrying out his duty. Then he began to play with more freedom, highlighting the talent he had already shown in Serie B.
The technique became increasingly evident, as did the ability to move between the lines and attack spaces. To these qualities was added a fundamental component for a young player who wants to impose himself at the highest levels: personality. That healthy courage that allows you to try an action even when you have established teammates and very experienced opponents in front of you. Amorimi began to see him with different eyes, because he found in him a footballer capable of playing in three-quarters, working in tight spaces, connecting the wards and participating in the construction of the attacking phase.
Now the perspective has changed. Milan have not yet written the final word on his future, but Cissè has done everything possible to make any decision that foresees his departure difficult. The goal against Torino, scored in an official match, represents another confirmation of his moment.
From the outskirts of Treviso to Serie B with Catanzaro, through a serious injury and a transfer to Milan: Cissè's story is now that of a journey in strong acceleration. Now the next step is the most difficult: to transform the enthusiasm of the summer into continuity and finally win the trust of Amorim. The talent does not seem to be in question. The real challenge now is to show that he can also become a protagonist in Serie A.
